Shloka 3

सूर्यरथः, सप्तगणाः, मासाधिकारिणः

The Sun’s Chariot and the Sevenfold Monthly Governors

Devanagari script

धाता कृतस्थला चैव पुलस्त्यो वासुकिस् तथा रथकृद् ग्रामणीर् हेतिस् तुम्बुरुश् चैव सप्तमः

Transliteration

dhātā kṛtasthalā caiva pulastyo vāsukis tathā rathakṛd grāmaṇīr hetis tumburuś caiva saptamaḥ

Translation

Dhātā and Kṛtasthalā; Pulastya and Vāsuki; Rathakṛt, Grāmaṇī, Heti, and Tumburu—these are spoken of as the seven in this enumeration.

Word by Word

• धाता: Dhātā
• धाता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• कृतस्थला: Kṛtasthalā
• कृतस्थला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-भाव) + स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (कृतं स्थलम् यस्याः/या) नामरूपेण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• पुलस्त्यः: Pulastya
• पुलस्त्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• वासुकिः: Vāsuki
• वासुकिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुकि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थे

• रथकृत्: Rathakṛt (chariot-maker)
• रथकृत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (रथं करोति इति)

• ग्रामणीः: Grāmaṇī
• ग्रामणीः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रामणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• हेतिः: Heti
• हेतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तुम्बुरुः: Tumburu
• तुम्बुरुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुम्बुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात

• सप्तमः: the seventh
• सप्तमः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Enumeration of the seven attendants/governors linked to Sūrya’s chariot for a given month

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Characters & Entities

• Dhātā
• Kṛtasthalā
• Pulastya
• Vāsuki
• Rathakṛt
• Grāmaṇī
• Heti
• Tumburu

FAQs

What is the significance of listing names like Dhātā, Pulastya, and Tumburu in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse functions as a catalog of cosmic functionaries—figures remembered as part of a sevenfold enumeration—supporting the Purāṇa’s theme that the universe runs through ordered appointments across cycles.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic order in this chapter’s style?

He teaches through structured lists and lineages—naming the beings assigned to roles in creation and governance—so Maitreya can see dharma and administration as embedded in the very fabric of Sarga and Manvantara rhythms.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context of enumerating sages and beings?

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purāṇic frame treats such orderly enumerations as expressions of Vishnu’s sovereign regulation of creation—cosmic roles arise within the larger reality sustained by the Supreme.